Eleanor Van Gelder Elementary School

251 Undercliff Avenue

School District

Edgewater
Grade

3-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Edgewater School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by other on January 04, 2024

I've had the opposite experience at EVG compared to the last few negative reviewers. In my experience, EVG is a top-tier school. I've witnessed an exceptional commitment to education and student well-being from both the teachers and other faculty members. The faculty's dedication to nurturing a love for learning is truly commendable. The curriculum is engaging but also sufficiently challenging for my fourth grader. The supportive environment also strongly encourages creativity and growth, and my daughter has flourished both socially and academically since starting at EVG.
Submitted by parent on January 24, 2022

My experience with this school is not good, especially over the past year. The teachers we had are not really teaching anything (The home room teacher we have this year is more like a cheerleader than a teacher. Drawing hearts on the homework page rather than marking down the incorrect answers because homework is graded based on “participation”! The kids are not being challenged to produce their best work) & the administration calls delay opening even when there was no significant weather event.
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2020

I would rate this school poorly due to
Submitted by teacher on November 15, 2018

Wonderful experiences at EVG. This is a great school and it also has an amazingly supportive community behind it.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2018

Overall terrible experience which is unfortunate because the lower grades started so well but from 4th- 6th grade there needs to be a serious revamping.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2017

I have two kids in the Edgewater School system. EVG has been great for my son. Their teachers are trained through Columbia University’s TCRWP and are trained by Staff Developers who work in some of NYC’s top public schools. Spanish is taught on all grade levels and their fifth and sixth grade is departmentalized, which gives kids a “mini Middle School experience”. The school has historic charm and has a renovated gymnasium. There is tech is every classroom and the schoolyard is huge!!!!
Submitted by other on March 31, 2015

I am in 5th grade here and its great. It has just celebrated its 100 year anniversary in January 2015. I love the teachers and the programs. I like that in 5th grade and 6th grade you have a different teacher for each subject and you switch classes just like middle school. The playground is really nice and the school has a big field. Every year firefighters and cops come to talk about safety and their job. They also have 1 author visit every year. Great school.
Submitted by parent on May 12, 2014

Teachers work hard and my child has made tremendous improvements in her writing. Very pleased with EVG.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2013

My son is in the fifth grade at EVG. He has been here since his first grade. We have loved EVG for him. He has grown in ways we never imagined. He has always LOVED to go to school and hates to miss it! Ultimately a good school is determined by how good it's teachers are. A good teacher can raise your child's personal scores by two grades, research shows. The years that my son has had good teachers, he has been the happiest. We've had a mix of good and bad over the years, but the new principal is ensuring the quality of teacher's above all else. She has instituted some marvelous literary programs from her Alma Mater, Columbia Universtiy and has the teacher's trained in them. She has brought the school technologically up to age. In a school with a high ESL population, we so needed the literacy initiatives. She has started NJ ASK prep because no matter how good the kids are, they need to have exam prep skills. Maybe it will take a few years. This school will be bringing hordes into the NY bedroom community of Edgewater. It is one to watch out for! I am very optimistic about EVG beings one the best in time to come. The kids get to mix with kids of all cultures.
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2013

School has many issues. Regular children are burdened with children with social and behavioral issues. Many children are below one grade level in class. School masks this deficiency by making students prepare for NJASK all year long. Not a lot of worldly learning, only by the books. Parents are not allowed to be involved much in class. Class parents get to help ask for free supplies and update info on fundraising. No class involvement at all. Principle of school is very qualified on paper. Her credentials on paper speak better than her actions. Quality of students in this school is questionable. It will take a few year before EVG turns to a gem; however, only if good families in the communities believe in the school and remain in public school. Chances are pretty slim..
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2013

The two edgewater elementary schools divide student population so that K-2nd Grade is at George Washington and the 3-6 Grades are at EVG. There is a de-emphasis on mathematics and hardcore curricula at both school. Both schools place more value on language arts, such as reading and writing, but at the expense of math & science. This year alone, 1st Graders lost 1 hour of math and 1 hour of science per week, to accomodate writer's workshop, principal's pet project. And that de-emphasis has been going on for a while. Class sizes are 20 kids or more in every grade, don't know where the stat of 10 students per teacher came from. Overall, this school may have been good once, but it has not been for a while now.
Submitted by parent on July 10, 2012

Great school my kids love it. Lots of work but they have sufficient programs to keep children on track.....My daughter made high honor roll this year.
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2012

some of the 5th and 6th grade teachers in this school are not good at math and science!One of the 6th grade teacher(she)is so arrogant and mean to kids. they spend least amount of time on math and science. If they can't handle math and science then they shouldn't even be teaching 5th and 6th graders! They got rid of science lab which is crucial for 5th and 6th graders. Their music curriculum dates back to 70s, I'm sur they have been teaching the same stuff for ages. During their spring and summer concerts they perform the same old stuff every year. Talented kids never get a chance, present music teacher always picks her favourite kid regardless of his or her ability to perform. Because of the teacher some of the kids dropped out of music class. This school is only good until 4th grade due to the fact that its not well equipped and staffed to teach 5th and 6th graders.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2011

Fantastic place to learn. Teachers are simply the best and the academic program is challenged.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2011

The school does not offer PK currently. They will in the future as they are building new facilities, but not currently.
Submitted by parent on June 28, 2011

This school has finally started get with the times and adapt Readers and Writers Workshop instead of Round Robin Reading! The superintendent knows what she is doing. I don't know how the veteran teachers or the younger teachers will take to this change in teaching reading.
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2010

If your child is gifted, EVG is not the school for him/her. The school administration is excellent except for the curriculum coordinator. The curriculum is tailored to fit slow learners. The smart ones are not nurtured; they are punished by having to go through the same learning process. There is no program that allows them to develop their motivation for higher learning. The school population grows every year. As a result, the science lab, language room, and the art room had to make way for additional classrooms. Each class has at least 24 kids.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2010

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Submitted by parent on August 07, 2009

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Submitted by parent on August 05, 2009

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